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First Up Podcast

RNZ
Hezbollah
Lebanon
Israel
Donald Trump
New Zealand
Ukraine
Kamala Harris
France
Paralympics
Gun Violence
Political Election
Australia
Auckland Museum
Oliver Campbell
US Presidential Race
Haitian Immigrants
Labour Party
Māori Language Week
US Presidential Election 2024
Hamish Kerr

The best of each day's First Up, with Nathan Rarere. If listening at 5am is too early, then check out our favourite stories of the morning at a time that suits you.

PublishesDailyEpisodes730Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Artwork for First Up Podcast

Latest Episodes

First Up - The Podcast for Monday 2nd March 2026

On today's First Up pod: what's happening to the old Cook St ferry thats parked up in the Sounds; Grant Chapman talks about the season ahead for the Warriors and earth to aliens.. we venture into outer space ... kind of - you can send a message but y... more

On today's First Up pod: Cinderella you shall go to the ball! A heartwarming story for our OpShop rummage about the donation of 1500 ball gowns; it's a big year for shot putter Tom Walsh, we check in on how his body's holding up ahead of the Commonwe... more

On today's First Up pod: Australia weighs in on the argument around Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor; do we really need to make English an official language or is it just dog whistle politics - we speak to a sociologist and what do those begging and sleepi... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Dr. Maya Nassar
Co-founder of the Humans Deep Space Message Project
Episode: First Up - The Podcast, Thursday 26 February
Fiona Coulson
Area manager for Salvation Army's Family Store in Hawke's Bay
Salvation Army Family Store
Episode: First Up - The Podcast, Wednesday 25 February
Tom Walsh
New Zealand shot put athlete
Episode: First Up - The Podcast, Wednesday 25 February
Averill Bell
Sociologist from Auckland University
Episode: First Up - The Podcast, Tuesday 24 February
Tamaroa Walker
Carver at Mountain Jade
Mountain Jade
Episode: First Up - The Podcast 13 February 2026
Lorna Edland
Area Manager for St. Vincent de Paul
St. Vincent de Paul
Episode: First Up - The Podcast, Wednesday 4 February
Kunal Gupta
Researcher at Waipapa Taumata Rau
Auckland Bioengineering Institute
Episode: First Up - The Podcast, Tuesday 3 February
Carolyn Press McKenzie
Animal welfare advocate and spokesperson for Helping You Help Animals
Helping You Help Animals
Episode: First Up - The Podcast, Tuesday 27 January
Zach Montellaro
Correspondent from Politico
Politico
Episode: First Up - The Podcast, Friday 19 December

Hosts

Nathan Rarere
Host of First Up, presenting a range of news stories and updates on current events as they happen in New Zealand and abroad.
Alice Wilkins
Producer and correspondent, contributing to the show's storytelling and narrative development.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 26 ratings
  • Look forward to it each day

    Nathan is awesome. Always have a wee laugh while I get the daily news.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nzchick13
    New Zealand3 years ago
  • Essential listening

    The best way to start day

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Basil-Wolf
    New Zealand3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the engaging delivery of news, highlighting the show's balance between serious topics and lighter, relatable stories.
Many look forward to daily updates, finding the format helps them stay informed promptly.

Top News Podcasts

Global News Podcast
Global News PodcastBBC World Service
The Daily
The DailyThe New York Times
Today in Focus
Today in FocusThe Guardian
Pod Save America
Pod Save AmericaPod Save America
Pod Save the World
Pod Save the WorldPod Save the World

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

First Up - The Podcast, Thursday 26 February
Q: What are the proposed changes regarding bike riding for children and e-scooters?
Willow Jean Prime supported the idea of children riding on footpaths and remarked on engaging the community for further feedback on proposed safety measures.
First Up - The Podcast, Thursday 26 February
Q: What does different mean for the Labour government?
Chris Hipkins emphasized that the focus will be on affordability for New Zealanders as the number one issue.
First Up - The Podcast, Wednesday 25 February
Q: What are you looking forward to in the National Champs, Tom?
Tom Walsh expresses excitement about competing against his longtime rival, Jaco Gill, reflecting on their shared history and the competitiveness they bring to the shot put events.
First Up - The Podcast, Wednesday 25 February
Q: What is the story about the prisoners escaping in Mexico?
Alice Wilkins explains that armed men cut through prison gates, leading to 23 prisoners escaping during a violent retaliatory incident after the death of drug lord Almecho.
First Up - The Podcast, Tuesday 24 February
Q: What's your take on that?
The timing of the English language bill seems suspicious, and it diverts from pressing issues in New Zealand.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About First Up Podcast

What is First Up Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A selection of morning news stories is presented in an accessible format, catering to listeners who prefer a curated experience of daily news highlights. The discussions frequently touch upon both local and international topics, offering diverse insights into significant events from politics, social issues, and community happenings. Unique features include interviews with relevant guests and light-hearted anecdotes, making it engaging for audiences looking for a blend of serious journalism and entertainment.

Where can I find podcast stats for First Up Podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for First Up Podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to First Up Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does First Up Podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for First Up Podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for First Up Podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for First Up Podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does First Up Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers First Up Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to First Up Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with First Up Podcast:

1. The Detail
2. Morning Report
3. The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
4. What's That Rash?
5. Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4

How many episodes of First Up Podcast are there?

First Up Podcast launched 6 years ago and published 730 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact First Up Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for First Up Podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for First Up Podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for First Up Podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of First Up Podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on First Up Podcast?

Recent guests on First Up Podcast include:

1. Dr. Maya Nassar
2. Fiona Coulson
3. Tom Walsh
4. Averill Bell
5. Tamaroa Walker
6. Lorna Edland
7. Kunal Gupta
8. Carolyn Press McKenzie

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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